Rule.



UNITED srATEs EATENT oEEioE.

WILLIAM J. DE LASHIMUTT, OF ASTORIA, OREGON.

RULE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Application led October 28, 1907. Serial No. 399,559.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. DE LAsH MUTT, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of Astoria, in the county of Clatsop and State of Ore on, have invented a new and Im roved Ru e, of which the following is arrangement of t j e sections into a triangle of predetermined angularity.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specifica-y tion, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure '1 is a plan view of my invention showing certain of the rule sections formed into a right-angled triangle; Fig. .2 is a perspective view of a joint of the rule showing parts in transverse section; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the extremity of the rule showing a detail.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, it should be understood that it answers the purposes of an ordinary rule such as a tape measure, folding rule and the like. At the same time it provides means for laying olf a line at right angles to any other line or for determlning-a line at some other angle with a known line.

While the invention is particularly applicable to flexible rules such as ta e measures it can also be used with rules o a dierent character; for instance, with wooden or steel folding rules and the like. It is often necessary to lay off a line at right-angles to some other line, without having recourse to a square or other instrument for the purpose, or when an ordinary rule alone is available.

My invention provides means not only for laying off lines at right angles, but also for determining lines of different angjlarity with respect to other lines and for t s purpose the assistance of no other instrument,

' such as a square, isnecessary.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents a rule casing of the ordinary construction and serving to contain a tape measure when the latter is rolled up.

1 The casing has the usual crank arm 2 by means of which the r'ule can be rolled u into the casing. The rule 8 in the form of t e device illustrated in the drawings herewith, may be formed of any suitable material such as steel, fabric or the like and is graduated into units, the unit marks 4 indicating feet, being designated by corresponding numbers and the letter F. The s aces between the feet marks are subdivide foot.

The body of the rule 3 consists of a plurality of sections, the end section A and the two adjacent sections B and C respectively, consisting, in the form of the device illustrated, of lengths of ten, six and eight feet, respectively. At t e extremity of the rule the into fractions of a section A has a plate member 5 secured thereto by means of rivets 6. The end of the plate is tapered and formed into a hook 7 for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

The sections IA, B andl C are pivotally secured together by means of eye-rivets 8 or in any other suitable manner. The section C may be jointed to the body of the rule or may consist of an extension thereof, being separated from the body of the rule by an eyelet 9 similar in form to the eye-rivets 8 and adapted to receive the hook 7.

By arranging the sections A, B and C as shown in Fig. 1, a right-angled triangle is formed, and by means of this triangle a line at right-angles to any other line can be determined. Similarly lines at angles with other lines corresponding to the hypotenuse angles of the trian les, can be laid ofl. The sides of the triange, that is, the sections A, B and C may be of any length, provided they are proportioned respectively to the numbers 3, 4 and 5, for it is Va well-known mathe` matical principle that a triangle having sides the length of which are so porportioned, is a right-an led triangle.

The p ate 5 is so formed, and is mounted upon the end of the rule in such a manner, that the length of the end sub-division of the section extends to the' hook 7. The eyerivets 8 are so arranged that the adjacent sub-division marks of the joint sections pass through the center of the eyelet; then, when the sections A, B and C are arranged to forrn the triangle the lengths of the sides of the latter are truly proportioned. The eyerivets also serve to permit the inserting therethrough oi' nails or other implements for holding the triangle in position.

It Will be understood that the sections A, B and C can be proportioned to forni a triangle other than a right-angle triangle, for instance, an equi-lateral triangle; that is, one in which the respective angles are all of 60.

Having thus described iny invention, I olaiin as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A rule comprising a lieXible band divided adjacent to one end into a plurality of sections, eye-rivets connecting the sections, the free end of the outermost section being pro- -Vided With a hook for engaging the eyerivet connecting the innermost sectionv with the band, said sections being proportioned to forni a predetermined triangle when the said sections are arranged each in a straight line and the end ol the outermost section connected with the eye-rivet connecting the innerinost section with the band.

In testimonyT whereof l have signed my naine to this specilication in the presence olf two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM J'. DE LASIIMUIT.

Vitnesses A. M. SMITH, ISABELLA PAULsnN. 

